Electric-circuit-controlling appliance



April 22, 1930. T J SACHS 1,755,369

ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONTROLLING APPLIANCE Original Filed July 18, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l' mysntaf Joseph @4775 711. IuZZw A 272.9

April 22, 1930. J. SACHS ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONTROLLING APPLIANCE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed July 18; 1927 Patented Apr. 22,1930

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH SACHS, OF WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT ELECTRIC-CIRCUIT-CONTROLLI1\TG APPLIANCE Application filed July 18, 1927, Serial No. 206,732. Rene wed December 7, 1929.

The invention relates to a circuit control- Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to ling appliance and particularly to a fused Fig. 2 and showing the same construction as switch and the invention is especially appli- Fig.4. e E

cable to a fused switch enclosed in a casing or Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are views similar respec- 5 cabinet. A fused switch embodying the prestively to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 but showing an alterent' invention is in some respects similar to nate embodiment of the invention. The see the fused switches disclosed in my copending tion of Fig. 8 is taken along the line 8-8 of applications for electric circuit controlling Fig. 6. appliances, Serial No. 153,966 filed Dec. 10, In the drawing there are shown two pairs 10 1926, Serial No. 165,645 filed Feb. 3, 19-27, and of fuse contacts and two separate switching Serial No. 174,350 filed Mar. 10,1927. devices but it will be understood that the in- One object of the present invention is to vent-ion is not necessarily limited to any parprovide a fused switch of the same general ticular number of fuses and switches. The type as disclosed in the aforesaidcopending fuse and switch'parts are shown symmetri- 15 applications but having the essential parts cally disposed with respect to the vertical centhereof differently disposed in relation to each tral plane of the appliance and for the sake of other in order to provide compactness and convenience and simplicity of description I simplicity. In accordance with the invention will in the main confine the description to there is providedan insulating base upon the those parts at one side of the said plane, it befront face of which the fuse and switch parts ing understood that the parts at the other side are mounted, the switch parts being at one are or may be the same in construction except side of the corresponding fuse parts. for reversal of positions. 7

Another object of the invention is to pro- For supporting the several fuse and switch vide a switch having a rectilinearly movable contacts of the appliance there is provided switching member as disclosed in the aforea base 1 of insulating material having its said pending applications, and having imfront face adapted for the mounting of elecproved relatively movable means for retrical parts as will presently be described. leasably holding the movable switching mem- The base is preferably relatively thin and it her in its normal path of movement. is adapted to be mounted directly upon a sup- In the accompanyingv drawings I have porting wall with its rear face indirect conshown two embodiments of the invention but tact with the-said supporting wall. The supit is to be understood that the drawing is inporting wall may be the rear wall of an 'cntended for illustrative purposes only and is closing cabinet? not to be construed as defining or limiting the Mounted upon the front face of the base scope of the invention, the claims forming a are two fuse receiving contacts 2 and 3. I part of this specification being relied upon haveshown contacts which are vertically for that purpose. spaced from each other and which are adapt- Of the drawings: ed for receiving acartridge enclosed fuse Fig. 1 is a front view of an appliance emsuch as F but it will be understood that I do bodying the invention, parts of the enclosing not necessarily limit myself to contacts for cabinet beingbroken away'to show the inreceiving a fuse of this type. When there are terior construction. two pairs of fuse contacts as shown they are Fig. 2 is a bottom View of theparts shown in preferably separated by a barrier 4- formed Fig. 1,the enclosing cabinet being shown in integrally w1ththe base 1. section along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. The appliance also comprlses two pairs of TJ Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken stationary switch contacts arranged with the along the line 33 of Fig. .1. contacts of each pair in opposed relationship Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View similar to and with the two pairs vertically spaced from Fig. 1 but showing an alternate embodiment each other. In accoi,'( lance with one phase of 50 of the invention. I the invention the switch contacts are mount-- 1 5) ed on the front face of the base 1 and are located at one side of the fuse contacts 2 and 3. As shown'the contacts of the lower pair are designated by 5 and 6 and the contacts of the upper pair are designated by 7 and 8.

. are oppositely disposed to provide two opbase. When there are two pairs of station-' posed parallel contact surfaces. The two porv tions 9 and 10 of each contact may be formed integrally with each other and they are so shown, but it will be understood that I do not limit myself to this integral construction. Suitable provision is made for connecting each contact with the base "and preferably and as shown there is provided a strip which is formed integrally with the portion 9 of the contact and which extends at right angles to the said portion along the face of the base. The strips connected with the contacts 5 and 8 are designated by 11 and 12 respectively and the strips carried by the contacts 6 and 7 are designated by 13 and 14: respectively. Screws 15, 15 are associated with the strips 11 and 12 and thus holdv the contacts 5 and 8 in place. Screws 16,16 engage the strips 13 and 14: and thus hold the contacts 6and 7 in place.

In order that a suitable electrical connection may be established through the fused switch appliance provision is made for electrically connecting one switch contact of each pair, that is, the contacts 6 and 7 with the corresponding fuse contacts 2 and 3. Such electrical connection can be made in various'ways but preferably and as illustrated the two strips 13 and 14 are extended laterally'so as 'to underlie and directly engage with the said fuse contacts. The aforesaid screws 16, 16 serve to connect the respective fuse contacts with the corresponding strips as shown. There are provided two wire connecting terminals 17 and 18 which are connected respectively with the strips 10 and 11. These terminals are thus electrically connected with the respective contacts 4 and 6.

For establishing or breaking electrical connection'between the switch contacts of the pairs 5, 6 and 7, 8 I provide for each pair a switching element which is rectilinearly movable parallelly with the front face of the ary switch contacts as shown thereare two movable conducting switching elements or contacts, 19 and 20 insulated from each other and adapted respectively to engage or disengage the said stationary switch contacts. The two movable switching contacts 19 and 20 are preferably carried by an insulating element 21 which with the said movable contacts constitutes a re'ctilinearly movable Serial No. 153,966. \Vith the stationary switch contacts located as shown and as described the said flat insulating element is arranged perpendicularly to the front face of thebase 1.

From the foregoing description it Wlll be apparent thatwhen the switching member is in the on position as shown in Fig. 1 a circuit. will be established from the wire connecting terminal 17 'throughthe switch contacts 5,19 and 6 to the fuse contact 2. Similarly a connection is established from the fuse contact 3 through the switch contacts 7 20 and 8 to the other wire connecting terminal 18. WVhen the switching membe r is moved downward from the position shown in Fig. 1 the movable contacts 19 and 20 will be disengaged from the stationary switch contacts and the circuit will be broken at two points at each side of the fuse thus making a total of four breaks. The insulating element 21 of the switching member serves not only. as a carrier'for the contacts 19 and 20 but it also serves as a. barrier which is moved between the opposite stationary contacts immediately upon the disengagement of the corresponding movable contact 19 or 20 therefrom. The switching member is entirely free to adjust itself laterally to conform to the positions of the several stationary switch contacts. If there are any defects in the initial construction or mounting of the stationary contacts or in the subsequent adjustment thereof the switching member will consealed so as to prevent unauthorized access to any of the parts. I have shown an enclosing cabinet 22 of sheet metal having a rear wall 23, side walls 24, 24 and end walls 25, 25. The cabinet has an openable front cover 26 which is shown as being hinged'at 27 to the bottom end wall 25. The base 1 is secured to the rear wall 23 of the cabinet by means of screws 28, 28. Suitable provision is made as indicated at S for sealing the cover in closed position.

-A means is provided for operating the switching member or members and when .there is an enclosing cabinet such as 22 the said means includes a handle located externally of the cabinet so that the switch can be operated when the cover'of the cabinet is closed. The cabinet may be utilized as a v narily prevent any movement of the switchmember in the forward direction out of 1 edge of the insulating swltching member and preferably this guid ing means consists of a portion of the insulat-' means for supporting the switch operating means and as shown there is'an operating spindle comprising a rod 29 including two pivot sections 30 and 31 which are mounted in bearing clips 32 and 33 secured to the back wall 23 of the cabinet. The rod 29 is bent to form a manually operable handle 34 outside of the cabinet and also to form a crank section 35 inside of the cabinet and between the pivot sections. The crank'section is operatively connected with the movable switch member and for thispu'rpose I have shown in the insulating element 21 of each switching member a slot 36 adapted to receive the said crank section 35. The slot 36 'is preferably open at one end, that is, at the back end, so as to facilitate assembly or dis-assembly.

I From the foregoing description it will be obvious that by moving the handle 34. each of the switch members can be moved longitudinally upward or downward as'described.

With the handle 34 in .its uppermost position as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the switching members will be held in their uppermost positions thus completing the, circuit through the appliance. When the handle is moved to its lowermost position the switching members will be moved to theirlowermost positions thus separating the movable contacts 18 and 19 fromfhe stationary contacts 5, 6, and 7, 8 respectively and thus breaking each leg of the circuit at four points as already described. Stops'37 and 38 are provided for I limiting the throw of the handle and thus limiting the movement of the switching members. i

A fixed guiding means is provided for one lement 21 of the ing base 1, Asdllustrated the base is provided with a groove39 into which the insulating element extends.-= Another guiding means is provided which engages the opposite edge of the insulating element, that is, the front edge. The construction and mounting of this second guiding meansmay be widel Varied but in Figs. 1 to 3 I have shown a gui ing means which comprises two extensions 40 and 41 formed respectively on two of the stationary switch contacts as, for instance, on the contacts 6 and 7. Each of these extensions is formed with a lip which.

extends transversely so as to engage the front edge of the insulating member. It will be obvious that the extensions 40 and 41 ordiing its normal path of movement. However, the extensions 40 and 41 overlap the insulating element 21 only to a slight extent and the entire switching member can be readily removed at an time by forcing it laterally sufiiciently to isengage the insulating element from the said extensions 40 and 41. The

switching member is thus freely removable for inspection or cleaning and the removal of the switching member facilitates inspection and cleaning of the stationary contacts.

. In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown another fuse.

Preferably the movable guiding means for I the switching member is carried upon the stationary switch contacts but this is not essential. As illustrated, however, the two contacts of each pair as, for instance, the contacts 5 and'6 are provided with upward extensions 42 and 43 each provided with an angular flange. A guiding element 44 of insulating material is mounted on the flanges of these extensions so as to be laterally mov-v able and preferably it is pivotally connected with one of them as, for instance, the extension 43. As shown the pivotal connection is effected by means of a screw 45 and asimilar screw 46 is carried by the extension 42.

The uiding element 44 is provided wlth a slot 4 receiving the screw 46, the slot permitting the guiding element to be swung laterally to a position such as shown by dotted lines in Fig, 4 without removing the screw 46. By tightening the screw the guiding element may b'e'clamped in the position shown by full lines in Fig.4. a

It will be understoodthat preferably two tacts. By releasing t 1e screws 46 and swinging the guiding elements laterally to positions such as shown by dotted linesin Fig. 4

the switching element is released for free forward movement.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 I have shown a con-- struction which is similar in principle to that shown in Figs. -1, 2 and 3 but which differs essentially in that the fuses are so'located as to be accessible through an opening in the front wall or cover in the cabinet while the cabinet is closed..

It will be observed that, as shown in Figs.

.6, 7 and 8, the front cover 26 of the cabinet is provided with an o ening 48 therein, and that the base 1 has a orward extending portiop 49 which closes the said opening 48 when the cover 26 is closed. The fuse contacts 2 and 3 are mounted on the forward extending portion 49 of the base so as to be terial is pivoted by means of a screw .45.

include strips 13 and 14 which extend lat-' erally from the tops of the contacts through recesses in the base so as to contact with the corresponding fuse clips 2 and 3; The said strips and the said fuse clips are held in place by means of screws 16, 16.

The means for preventing the forward movement of the movable switching mem-' bers may be as shown in'Figs. 1 to 3 but I have shown a construction, somewhat simil'ar to that shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Each of the stationaryswitchucontacts 6 and 7-is provided with an upward extension 43*.having a laterally extending flange to which a guiding element 44 preferably of insulating UK- s clearly shown in Fig. 6, each guiding element 44 is normally held in the position shown by full lines by reason of its engagement or substantial engagement with the wall of extension 49 of the base 1.'- The corners 51, 51 of.

theelement 44 normally prevent any considerable movement of the said element about its pivotal axis. However, the resiliency of the extension 43 is such as to permit each element 44 to be moved either upward or downward as, for instance, to a position such as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 6. With both of the corresponding guiding elements 44 positioned as shown in Fig. 9 the movable element of either switching means is free to be removed in the forward direction.

The enclosing cabinet isor may be the same. as already described except for the front cover thereof; The said cover has an opening therein as already described, and it may if desired be held closed bymeans of a latch 52 and the means for operating the switching members from the exterior of the cabinet may be similar to that already described although differing in details, I have shown an operating spindle'29 which includes a handle 34* on the exterior of the cabinet and a cranked section 35 on the interior thereof. When the handle 34 is in the uppermost position shown in Fig. 8 the switches are closed. When the handle 34 is moved in the lowermost position shown in Fig. 8 the switching .members are moved downward and the switches are ofened. A stop member 37 is provided for limiting the movement of the handle 34.

As already stated the opening 48 in the cover 26 is closed by the base extension 49 when the cover is closed. As the result of this construction it is impossible to get access to interior of the cabinet or to any of the live electrical parts therein except the fuse contacts after the cover has been closed and sealed. For normally externally closing the opening 48 I preferably provide a transversely or laterally slidable auxiliary cover 53 which is held and guided by means of a member 54. The cover 53 is provided with a knob 55 by means of which it may be moved laterally. With the parts in the position shown by full lines the auxiliary cover is obstructed by the handle 34" so that the auxiliary cover cannot be opened to expose the fuses so long as the handle 34 remains in the switch closing position. However, when the handle is moved downward so as to move the switching members downward to open the circuit the auxiliary cover 53 is then free to be moved laterally toward the right to permit access to the fuse contacts and the fuses; but with the cover thus moved laterally it is impossible to move the handle 34* to close the circuit. The interlocked cover and handle construction as disclosed does not of itself constitute any part of the presenti'nvention, being set forth in my copending applications for enclosed switch, Serial N 0. 656,182 filed Aug. 7, 1923 and for enclosed fused switch, Serial No. 709,943 filed April 30, 1924.

What I claim is 1. In a fused switch appliance, the combination of an insulating base, two fuse receiving contacts directly mounted upon the base at the front thereof, two pairs of opposed stationary switch contacts carried by the base at the front thereof and at one side of the fuse contacts, conducting means for electrically connecting one switch contact of each pair with its corresponding fuse contact,

a rectilinearly movable switching member comprising an insulating element and two conducting elements carried by the insulating element and normally engaging the said switch contacts of the corresponding pairs to establish a circuit through the appliance,

means normally engaging the insulating element of the said member to prevent orward movement thereof, and means for rectilinear- 1y moving the switchin member approximately parallelly with t e front face of the a base to engage the conducting elements thereof with the stationary switch contacts or to disengage them therefrom.

2. In afused switch appliance, the combination of an insulating base, two vertically spaced fuse receiving contacts directly mounted upon the base at the front thereof and adapted for receiving a cartridge enclosed fuse, two vertically spaced pairs of opposed stationary switch contacts carried by the base at one side ofthe fuse contacts, each of the contacts including a portion extending forcluding a strip formed integrally with the.

last said portion and extending laterally into direct engagement with the corresponding fuse contact, a rectilinearly movable switchingmember comprising an insulating element and two conductingelements carried by the insulating element and normally engaging the said switch contacts of the corresponding pairs to establish a circuit through the appliance, means normally engaging the insulating element of the said member toprevent forward movement thereof, and means for rectilinearly-moving the swit'ching'member approximately parallelly with the front face of the base to engage the conducting elements thereof with the stationary switch contacts or to disengage them therefrom.

3. In a fused switch appliance, the combi- I I i I I natlon of an insulatmg base, two fuse rece1ving contacts directly mounted upon the base at the front thereof, two pairs of opposed stationary switch contacts carried by the base at the front thereof, and at one side of the fuse contactsfa rectilinearly'movable switching member comprising an insulating element and twoconducting elements carried by. the

insulating element and normally engaging the "said switch contacts of the corresponding pairs to establish a circuit through the appliance, means carried by the stationary switch contacts and normally engaging the insulating element of the said member to prevent forward movement thereof, and means for rectilinearlymovi'ng the switching member approximately parallelly with the front face of -the base to engage the conducting elements thereof with the stationary switch contacts or to disengage them therefrom.

4. In an enclosed fused switch, the combination of an enclosing cabinet having an opnable front cover with an opening therein, an insulating base within the cabinet having a forward extending portion thereof positioned to normally closeithe said opening when the cover is closed, a pair of fuse receiving contacts mounted on the said portion of thebase and accessible through the said opening, two pairs of opposed stationary switch contacts carried by the base at one side of the said forward extending portion thereof, a rectilinearly movable switching member comprising an insulating element and two conducting elements carried bythe insulating element and normally engaglng the stationary switch contacts of the corresponding pairs to establish a circuit through the appli-' ance, means normally engaging the insulating element of the said member to prevent forward movement thereof, and means operable from'the exterior of the cabinet for rectilinearly moving the switching member approximately parallelly with the front cover to engage the conducting elements thereof r with the stationary switch contacts or to disengage them therefrom.

5. In an electric switch, the combination of two pairs of opposed stationary switch contacts, a rectilinearly movable switching member comprising a fiat insulating'element and two conducting elements carried by the insulating element and normally engaging the said switch contacts of the corresponding pairs to establish a circuit through the appliance, fixed guiding means engaging the insulating element of the switching memberat one edge, other guiding means normally engaging'the insulating element of the said member at the other edge thereof, the last said means being movable out of engaging position transversely of the plane of the insulating element to permit removal of the switching member out of its-normal path of movement, and means for rectilinearly moving the switching member rectilinearly between the two said guiding means to engage the conducting elements thereof with the stationary switch contacts or to disengage them therefrom. 1

6. In an; electric switch, the combination of two pairs of opposed stationary switch contacts, a rectilinearly movable switching member comprising an insulating element and two conducting elements carried by the insulating element and normally engaging the said switch contacts of the corresponding pairs to establish a circuit through the appliance, fixed guiding means engaging the insulating element of the switching member at one edge, other guiding means normally engaging the insulating element of the said member at the other edge thereof, the last said means being pivotally mounted at one side of the said element and being movable about its pivot out of engaging position to permit removal of the said member out'of its normalpath of movement, and means for reetilinearly moving the switching memberrectllinearly between the two said guidlng means i to engage the conducting elements thereof with the stationary switch contacts'or to disenga e them therefrom.

7. n an electric switch, the ,combination of two pairs of opposed stationary switch con-' tacts, a rectilinear-1y movable switching member comprising'a fiat insulating element and two conducting elements carried by the insulating element and normally engaging the said switch contacts of the corresponding pairs to establish a circuit through the appliance, fixed. guiding means engaging the insulating element of the switching member at one edge, other guiding means carried entirely by the said contacts and normally engaging the insulating element of the said member at the other edge thereof, the last said means being movable out of engaging position transversely of the plane of the insulating element to permit removal of the switch contact of each pair with its corresponding fuse contact, a rectilinearly movable switching member comprising an insu-' lating element and conducting elements carried by the insulating element and normally engaging the said switch contacts of vthe corresponding pairs to establish a circuit through the appliance, fixed guiding means engaging the insulating element of the switching member at one edge, other guiding means additional to the said base and nor- 'mally engaging the insulating element of the said mei'nber at the other edge thereof, the last said means being movable out of engaging position to permit removal of the switching member, and means for rectilinearly moving the switching member recti-- linearly between the twosaid guiding means to engage the conducting elements thereof with the stationary switchcontacts or to disengage them therefrom.

9. In a fused switch appliance,'the combination of an insulating base, two fusereceiving contacts on the base, two pairs of opposed statlonary swltch contacts, conduc mg means for electrically connecting one switch contact of'each pair with its correspending fuse contact, a rectilinearly movable switching member comprising a flat insulating element and two conducting elements carried by the insulating element and normally engaging the said switch contacts of the corresponding pairs to establish a circuit through the appliance, fixed guiding means engaging the insulating element of the switching member at oneedge, other guiding means additional to the said base and normally engaging the insulating element of the said member at the other edge thereof, the last said means being'movable out of engaging position transversely of the plane of the insulating element'to' permit removal of the switching member, and means for rectilinearly moving the switching member rec,- tilinearly between the two said uiding means to engage the conducting e ements at the front thereof and at one side of the fuse contacts, conducting means for electrically connecting one switch contact of each pair with its corresponding fuse contact, a

the said insulating element being guided atone edge by the base, guiding means additional to the said base and normally engaging the insulating element of the said member at the other edge thereof, the last said means being carried by the switch contacts and being movable out of engaging position to permit removal of the switching member, and means for rectilinearly moving the switching member rectilinearly between the base-and the said guiding Tneans to engage the conducting elements thereof with the stationary switch contacts or to disengage them therefrom.

11. In a fused switch appliance, the combination of an insulating base, two fuse receiving contacts mounted upon the base at the front thereof, two pairs of opposed stationary switch contacts carried by the base at the front thereof and at one side of the fuse contacts, conducting means for electrically connecting one switch contactof each pair with its corresponding] fuse contact, a

rectilinearly movable switching member comprising a fiat insulating element and-two conducting elements carried by the insulating element and normally engaging the said switch contacts of the corresponding pairs to establish a circuit-through the appliance, fixed guiding means engaging the insulating element of the switching member at one edge, other guiding means additional to the said base and normally engaging the insulating element of the said member at the other edge thereof, the last said means being movable out of engaging position transversely of the planeof the insulating element 'to permit removal of the switching member, and means for 'rect-ilinearly moving the switching member rectilinearly between the two said guiding means to engagethe con ducting elements thereof with the stationary switch contacts or to disengage them therefrom.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of June, 1927.

' JOSEPH SACHS.

thereof with the stationary switch contacts or 1 v to disengage them therefrom.

10. In a fused switch appliance, the combination of an insulating base, two fuse receiving contadts mounted upon the base at the front thereof, two pairs of opposed stationary switch contacts carried by the base 

